Hockey: CW recap - Splitting it up again

One thing has been a constant this season when the Saskatchewan Huskies lace em up for a weekend series - a split.

For the third time in as many tries, the Huskies picked up a win and a loss this weekend in their matchup with the Manitoba Bisons, while both Alberta and Calgary came away with sweeps.Bears, Pronghorns play some pickup hockey

After an 8-2 victory Friday night in Edmonton - a game in which the Bears Derek Ryan had a hat-trick and three assists, including his third goal coming shorthanded on a 5-on-3 kill - the Pronghorns and Bears played one of the sloppiest, yet entertaining games of the season Saturday at Clare Drake Arena.

It was hardly a display of system perfection in the Saturday night affair, with the two sides trading blows in a second period that saw the Bears and 'Horns combine for eight goals in an eventual 9-6 win for Alberta.

The absence of Scott Bowles in goal was glaring for Lethbridge, with backup Reese St. Goddard looking overwhelmed for the majority of the series.

At the other end of the ice, rookie Linden Rowat got his first start of the regular season Saturday after Kurtis Mucha picked up the win Friday. Rowat wasn't overly impressive surrendering six goals in his debut, and when his next start will come is anyone's guess with Real Cyr not seeing action this weekend.

For a Lethbridge team that I think has potential to be a real player in what will be a muttled Canada West playoff picture this season, it was hard to judge just where they're at considering the absence of Brian Matte, Andrew Courtney and Bowles. One thing was clear this weekend; however, they need Bowles back - now.

Dinos feel right at home in Father David Bauer Arena

The postal code may be different, but the Calgary Dinos felt right at home in Vancouver's Father David Bauer Arena, picking up a pair of one goal victories over UBC - 3-2 Friday and 2-1 Saturday via the shootout.

Things were close this weekend for the T-Birds who simply couldn't muster enough offence, running intot hot goaltenders in Kris Lazaruk Friday and Dustin Butler Saturday. Butler stood on his head to make 40 stops, making four stops in the shootout as well.

Saturday marked the Dinos fourth consecutive win, and fourth one goal game in a row as well.

Strong goaltending performances were good signs for the Dinos, who may find themselves in a situation where both netminders see action every weekend - a system that gives head coach Mark Howell some options in the crease come crunch time.

Bisons get a trio of points in Toon Town

It's early in the season, but one thing is clear when it comes to the Manitoba Bisons and Saskatchewan Huskies - these two teams are going to be in a dead heat all season long.

In a rare Saturday-Sunday series, Steve Christie put up the goose egg Saturday to backstop the Bisons to a 2-0 win at Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon thanks to two powerplay goals from the Herd. On the other side of the coin, Saskatchewan would go an abysmal 0-for-9 with the man advantage.

Sunday saw the team's trade markers, with regulation solving nothing, as the two sides needed overtime to break a 3-3 draw. Huskies assistant captain Steven DaSilva would prove to be the hero, scoring the OT winner 2:18 into the extra period to lift Saskatchewan to the 4-3 win.

While Manitoba didn't get a rare sweep at Rutherford, they did manage to pick up three out of a possible four points, making their trip up to Toon Town a success.